“SURYA KIRAN-XVI”: Indo-Nepal Joint Training Exercise

Joint training is an important step towards enhancing bilateral military cooperation between India and Nepal. This year’s edition of the exercise will focus on evolving combined drills for planning and conduct of tactical operations at the unit level in counter-terrorism operations and disaster response mechanisms. It will be based on the theme “Surya Kiran-XVI: Building Partnerships for Peace and Security”.
The joint training exercise with Nepal is part of India’s commitment to the ‘Neighborhood First Policy’. The Indian Army has been conducting such joint training exercises with countries all around the world as a way to enhance bilateral cooperation between the armies.
The joint training will provide an opportunity for the participating contingents to exchange their experiences in counter-insurgency operations and disaster response mechanisms. The training will also help enhance mutual understanding between the two armies.
Indian Army troops arrived in Saljhandi, Nepal, for the 16th Joint India-Nepal Military Exercise (SURYAKIRAN-XVI), to be held in Nepal from 10 to 23 October 2018. The exercise is a paragon for the exchange of professional experience and cementing the friendship between two armies.
The exercise will be held over an area of about 1.5 million square kilometers in the Surkhet and Dolpa districts of Nepal. The training activities are scheduled to take place at various locations with different terrain features, including plains and high-altitude areas.
During this exercise, both armies will engage in joint training activities to enhance interoperability and cooperation between them. The Indian Army contingent is led by Colonel Ajay Singh Yadav, while the Nepalese Army contingent is led by Colonel Neelkanth Kafle.